Professional Carpet Cleaning Tips

Carpet stains are frustrating and ugly and can be very difficult to get rid of once they have set in. Using just a few effective stain removal tips can stop a spill or accident from turning into a stain and make it easy to remove.

1. Sooner Rather Than Later It is very important to deal with a spill or accident as soon as possible to prevent it from turning into a stain in the first place. The longer the spill is left, the more time it has to draw deep into the carpet fibers and the more difficult it will be to remove at a later date.

2. Dab Don’t Rub Use an absorbent cloth or paper towel to dab at the spill and never rub. Rubbing the spill will simply allow it to be drawn deeper into the fibers and can even spread the stain, turning a little spot into a huge eyesore. A slightly damp cloth is more likely to draw out the spill than an entirely dry cloth.

3. Pour Salt On The Wound Did you know that your laundry detergent contains a high percentage of Sodium Chloride or common salt? This is because salt is actually quite an effective stain remover. Not only this, but salt draws out moisture making it ideal for treating wet spills. Simply pour a substantial amount of salt, leave it for a few minutes and watch how it draws the liquid and the stain out of the carpet.

4. Water Temperature Warm or hot water may be great at dissolving some types of stains like coffee, tea or sodas. However, this is not always the case. Red wine is better treated with cold water as it resolves the stain rather than letting it set in. Cold water is also far better for removing blood from a carpet as hot or warm water can cause the blood to congeal and result in a stubborn stain. So do a quick online check to see which water temperature is best suited to removing a specific type of spill or stain.

5. Bio-enzyme Stain Remover Most spills and carpet stains are caused by biological matter. Bio-enzyme stain removers or carpet shampoos contain enzymes that are designed to break down and effectively remove this type of biological matter. So when it is food, a beverage or a pet accident, a bio-enzyme cleaner will be far more effective at removing the stain. For pet stains, it is recommended to visit your local vet or pet shop for a bio-enzyme cleaner specifically aimed at pet accidents. Not only will the resolve the stain but the odor too making it far less likely that your pet will return to the same place and repeat the behavior.

These are our best suggestions for removing stains on your own. If you have some older set in stains a carpet cleaning company might do the trick. Prevention is always better than cure when it comes to dealing with carpet stains. Covering your carpets with a protective material, especially in high traffic areas is recommended. Alternatively, coatings are available that can be applied to the carpet in order to prevent stains from drawing into the fibers.